F O U R T Y - T W O

NOVA

I was scared...just not of him.

I was scared of the unknown and how little I actually knew of this world.

I was scared of the dangers I didn't realize were constantly following me, patiently waiting in the shadows to strike and burst the protective little bubble I've created for myself since coming to Crescent Academy.

Stupidly, while I was aware of the dangers inside of the Academy, I arrogantly thought that I could deal with any problem that these privileged kids threw my way.

Rumors? Glares? Snide remarks? Petty posters?

No big deal.

A terrifying half-dead creature gunning for me and nearly killing one someone that I realized has becoming important to me?

Now that was a different fucking issue.

Because while I hadn't had the time to really process what I witness that day, too busy worrying over Atlas and the others, I couldn't stop the subconscious recollections swimming through my dreams at night.

There was just so much blood...covering everything and anything I laid my eyes on.

A shudder moved through my body before I could stop, the heat from Atlas's hand on my hip immediately disappearing as he misinterpreted my terror for disgust.

"I'm sorry baby" He whispered, pain mingling in his voice as a choked sound left his chest "I've never...I won't... I'm sorry..."

I placed my hands over his mouth, essentially hushing his unnecessary apologies.

"Lobo," I straddled him gently, leaning my head on his chest as I lifted my hands from his mouth "Does it feel like I'm scared of you?"

"No?" He blinked owlishly at me "But that could be because I'm biased, a little hopeful, and a hell of a lot confused right now."

My lips twitched up in a smile "And how long have you known me?"

"A couple months, give of take" he said, eyeing me wearily "Why?"

"So you know that I'm not one to mince my words or hold back my feelings" I said "I'm also not one to let others touch me....Like at all."

I lifted his hands gently until they were once again back on my hips, biting my lip to hold back the laugh that wanted to escape as he continuously blinked rapidly up at me.

"You annoy me in more ways than I thought was physically possible" I began "You're rude, arrogant, somewhat crass at times..."

"Geez," He muttered "Tell me how you really feel baby."

I raised a brow "Do I need to muzzle you Wolf boy?"

His eyes heated, that familiar smirk gracing his face making the butterflies go in my stomach go haywire.

"That really depends on what you plan on using to keep me quiet" His grin turned downright sinful "And I might have some ideas if you're open to it."

I blushed, freaking blushed at his statement, ignoring his enticingly scandalous words.

"...But underneath all that assholeness is a humble, honest man that not only cares deeply for his Pack but also for those closest to him, regardless of their status within a Pack" I said softly, cupping his cheek "From what you've shared with me, your life hasn't been easy, with you mom dying the way she did, but you've managed to make the the best of it. For not only your brothers but for yourself too."

I took a deep breath, hesitantly leaning forward and kissing the corner of his mouth, my lips trembling softly as they met his unshaven, scruffy face.

"So the answer is no, Atlas" I said softly, pulling back slightly as I looked down at him, only to find him gazing up at me intensely with an unknown look in those amber eyes of his "I'm not scared of you or the others. I honestly think, as fuck up as this sounds, that even if I saw you murder a thousand of those creatures, I still wouldn't be scared of you three."

"Fucking A...Little Star" He breathed, muttering something unintelligible under his breath "You...You're going to be the death of me."

I smiled down at him, about to make a snarky remark when his hand suddenly shot out and cupped the back of my head, pulling lightly on my hair as he guided me close to him.

"But oh what a way to go..." he murmured, tugging me even close to him until our faces were only an inch away from each other "They might murder me when they find out but fuck it."

Before I could ask what he meant, his grip tightened on my hair as he reared up and kissed me, twisting in a way that forced me to follow his lead as he reversed our positions.

He groaned into my mouth, adding more of his delicious weight on top of me as he nudged my legs apart with his as he settled in.

The kiss...if that's even what you wanted to call it at this point considering it nearly consumed my very existence with how fan-fucking-tastic it was...was not only unexpected but also mind numbing to the point that I'm pretty sure I forgot my own name for a second.

Atlas shifted slightly, and in my lust-induced haze, my body misinterpreted that as him trying to leave so my legs automatically wrapped around thick waist and subconsciously brought him closer to me.

He swallowed my whimpers of needed and groans of delight, letting out his own sounds of pleasure as my hands gently tug at his silky, dark hair.

I moaned as he broke away from the kiss, arching my neck as his lips trailed down my neck, nipping and leaving small bites on my skin.

When that sensation became too much for me to handle, I yanked his head back up and kissed him again, our mouths dominating one another in a way I've never experienced before.

Not that I had much experience to begin with, I mean...

"WHAT IN THE EVER-LOVING FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?" A familiar voice boomed loudly in the small safe room, startling me so bad that I accidentally bit down on Atlas's full bottom lip.

I bit down too hard apparently because one second he was fine and the next, the slight metallic tang of blood filled my senses and coated my tongue as he continued to kiss me, not caring about his bleeding lip in the slightest.

Atlas groaned, impressively managing to somehow grip the bed's comforter and pull it over our heads until we were enveloped in a blanket cocoon, only pulling back slight as the shuffle of footsteps and strides could be heard from across the room.

"Baby," He panted out, his forehead dropping to mine as we stared at each other, trying to catch our breaths "Don't be alarmed or feel guilty about what the guys will do next. Trust me, it's every bit deserved."

I frowned "What do you mean?"

"If they start beating the shit out of me" He clarified right when the covers were ripped right off of us and he was dragged away from me "Remember baby, it was all totally worth it!"

I gasped as sat on my knees on the bed, reaching for Atlas as Phoenix continued to drag him away from the bed.

Kassian hovered in the doorway of the room, eyes shifting from me to Atlas and then Phoenix before settling on me once more.

His eyes narrowed in an unfamiliar emotion.

Phoenix was angrily muttering something to Atlas, his familiar scowl in place as he continued to berate the man who was just caught kissing me.

My lips tingled just thinking about said kiss, a blush heating my cheeks and rushing towards my neck.

Kassian narrowed his eyes even further, stepping into the room until he stood a foot away from the bed.

He reached out slowly, almost hesitantly, as he brushed a piece of hair behind my ear.

"He wasn't rough with you, was he?"

"No" I blinked up at him, sitting back on my heels "Why do you ask?"

His index finger trailed down my neck, swirling softly around a particularly tender spot.

I gasped as his continued his trek down lower, stopping short at the edge of the v-neck sleep shirt that I wore.

"Because his marks look like they hurt" Kass asked, his eyes darkening "Do they hurt Princess?"

"No," I breathed "He didn't...they don't hurt."

He must have saw the truth in my gaze because his body relaxed fractionally.

"And you wanted him to kiss you?" he asked in a quieter tone, the voices of the other two idiots rising as their anger got the best of them "He wasn't pushy? He didn't extort his illness against you?"

"NO!" I looked away, my cheeks on fire at this point "I...I initiated it."

Silence.

After a few awkward seconds of silence, I took a chance sneak at Kassian.

He turned before I could get a good look at his face, clearing his throat as he stepped away from me.

"I see" he said in a weird tone "Well, you let me know if he becomes too clingy or obsessive. I've seen first hand the extent the Lobo's take when pursing their girl."